Hello, fellow wordplay enthusiasts and cryptic champions! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a perfectly crafted crossword clue, is there? The way it dances on the edge of comprehension, teasing your brain with misdirection while subtly pointing you towards the answer. Today, we’re diving into one such gem that truly exemplifies the art of cryptic puzzling, a
crossword clue
that probably had more than a few of you scratching your heads in delightful frustration.
We’re talking about the brilliant little piece of word wizardry:
“Missing a brass band sound’s great energy (5)“
.
At first glance, a
crossword clue
like this might seem almost like a mini-mystery in itself. You read it, and images of parading musicians and vibrant, joyous noise probably fill your mind. You might even hear the booming of tubas and the bright blare of trumpets. That’s the beauty of a well-written surface reading – it paints a vivid picture that distracts you from the clever, often literal, mechanism hidden beneath. And trust me, this particular
crossword clue
has a wonderfully deceptive surface.
When tackling challenging
crossword clues
, we often look for trigger words. “Missing” is a powerful one in cryptic crosswords, frequently signalling a subtraction of letters, or perhaps an absence. Then there’s “sound,” which can sometimes point to homophones or onomatopoeia. And “great energy” feels like a definition, or at least a descriptor of something quite dynamic. The five-letter answer constraint (5) is, of course, our final, crucial piece of information, narrowing down the possibilities significantly once we start piecing together the wordplay.
This isn’t just any
crossword clue
; it’s a masterclass in how multiple cryptic indicators can coalesce into one elegant solution. It demands you think about the components of a brass band’s auditory presence, and then consider what it might mean to be “missing” something from that. It’s the kind of
crossword puzzle clue
that makes you appreciate the constructor’s ingenuity once the penny finally drops.
The satisfaction of solving
crossword clues
like this one is immense. It’s that exhilarating “aha!” moment when the convoluted phrasing suddenly clicks into place, revealing a surprisingly straightforward, yet perfectly fitting, word. It’s not just about filling in the grid; it’s about unraveling a linguistic puzzle, appreciating the wit and precision embedded in each phrase.
So, how did you fare with this one? Did you immediately spot the genius within this
crossword clue
, or did it send you on a delightful wild goose chase before you landed on the correct solution? It’s a prime example of why we keep coming back to these grids day after day, week after week – for the sheer mental workout and the joyous reward of cracking another brilliant piece of wordplay. Stay tuned, because we’re about to break down exactly what makes this
crossword clue
so utterly brilliant, without giving away the answer just yet, of course!
Available Answers:
OOMPH.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Friday, 3 October 2025